Avery is half asleep, but in her defence, so is Lilith.The two women are leaning against each other, their heads resting on one another'."Have you ever seen your one so peaceful?" Roman asks in amusement, shaking his head at Avery as he pulls out his laptop and gets ready for the second half of the conference to begin."She's gorgeous," Zephyr sighs dreamily, holding Lilith's hand loosely."Are you happy?" Roman quietly questions, his eyes not leaving Avery's face."Happier than I've ever been in my life," Zephyr whispers, leaning in and kissing Lilith.Lilith jolts awake and slaps Zephyr across the face.Her jolting awake makes Avery bolt up, and now both women are alert and looking very pissed off."What the hell?" Avery groans, sitting back down and rubbing her face.She remembers she has makeup on, and then whips her hands away from her face, cursing everyone and everything she's ever known."Why did you do that?" Lilith whines, looking miserable."He was trying to be cute," Rom
Avery and Lilith are quickly moved to an office just off the dining hall, Council members hurrying them along.Alpha Petty is dragged with them, and Zephyr and Roman follow quickly, being turned away at the door.The three stand awkwardly in the office, Avery's hands covered in blood.She tries not to retch when she notices, and Lilith snatches a bottle of water off the desk, pouring it over her hands to get rid of some of the blood."You weren't as freaked when you did this to my face," Scott mumbles, and Avery glares at him."That boy was just a kid, and he was going to kill himself. He's innocent in all of this. You, however, were the opposite of innocent," she snaps, muttering her thanks to Lilith."So.. guilty?" Scott smirks, and Avery bares her teeth at him."Alpha Petty, you stay in your corner, and we'll stay in ours," Lilith announces, pulling Avery back to behind the desk, where she sits her down and stands behind her."At least you didn't get blood on your dress," Lilith s
The silence is a little awkward, but it's also very calm.The two pairs are sitting comfortable, Avery having moved her chair to lean against Roman's legs, her head against his abdomen."What's your name?" Avery asks the girl beside Scott.He shoots her a slight look, and Avery shrugs."I'm assuming I'm going to see her again, so I don't see a problem with being friendly. It's you I have the issue with, not her," Avery yawns, looking bored at having to explain herself."Kali," she almost whispers back."Like the goddess of destruction?" Avery asks with a hint of humour in her voice.Roman nudges her, shooting her a stern look."Yes, you're familiar?" The girl asks quietly, her voice slightly accented."I know a little bit of every culture and language, it's a beautiful name," Avery nods, feeling uneasy."So you two.. screwed?" Kali manages to get out, and Scott and Avery exchange a regretful look."Yes," both nod and Kali simply nods back, before going back to being silent."It was a
"It's like he's a nun," Avery whines, and Lilith looks up from painting her nails in the corner of the room."Maybe he just respects you?" She suggests, rolling her eyes and picking the silver nail polish back up."Maybe you should make the first move?" Meredith grumbles, plucking her brows in the mirror. "I make the first move with everything, it's his turn," Avery grunts, pulling herself back up onto the bed with a lot of effort, from where she was half slumped onto the ground."Mike is the least spontaneous person I've ever met if we're complaining about mates," Meredith moans, dropping her tweezers in a huff."Zephyr is afraid to tell me anything important in case it scares me," Lilith comments, a brief look of irritation crossing her face before it returns to its neutral expression."And Roman isn't my mate," Avery scowls, and the other two share a look."That just means you aren't obliged to deal with him," Meredith shrugs, watching her best friend flop around like a slug on a
The beginning of the night is spent in the most relaxing way Avery could think of.She has a bubble bath when she gets back to her room, and she reads some files that were slid her way by various Alphas."Avery?" Roman calls, knocking on the bathroom door."Shit," Avery mutters, groping around the tub for a towel."Yeah, I'm in here," she calls back, her voice higher than usual as she desperately looks for something to conserve her modesty with.She finally grasps one of the towels off the rail a meter away, and stands up out of the bath, wrapping herself in the towel tightly.Roman walks in just as she finishes covering herself, and she stares at him in silence, raising a brow when he just stares back."You needed me?" She sighs, leaning against the wall, some of her hair coming out of its topknot and falling into her face.She blows at the hair, trying to keep it out of her eyes."I was just wondering if you were hungry, or if you wanted to go for a run," he scratches his neck awkwa
Avery is dragged to an empty room by Mike and Meredith, who tuck her in and stay for a few minutes until she falls asleep."I really don't like this," Meredith murmurs, and Mike nods silently, wrapping his arm around her waist."I'll ring York and tell him he'll have to take her home tomorrow, I can't watch her go to Lancaster's pack and be on her own like this," Mike whispers to Meredith, kissing her hair silently.They watch over Avery for a few more minutes, the atmosphere in the room heavy.When they eventually leave, they close the door quietly.Meredith runs a hand through her dark hair in worry and sighs reluctantly."If you tell York, I'll go and get her bags from Roman's room?" She suggests, and Mike nods firmly."If he goes near you, scream," he scowls, hugging his mate before they depart.Meredith walks slowly to where Avery stayed, her journey feeling like a death march.She knows fully well that Avery's misery isn't entirely down to Roman, but she also knows that a part o
Avery wakes up the next morning to somebody banging on her bedroom door.Well, it isn't her bedroom, and she doesn't know how she got to this room, but she's fully clothed and tucked in like a burrito, so she knows one of the girls probably put her to bed.She has a slight headache, made worse by the banging on the door, but she doesn't move."Where is he?" She croaks out loud, and Sonya sighs dramatically.He isn't here, you dumb bitch, she responds, and Avery furrows her brows.Where is he, then?, she asks, her tone a little sad.I don't know, probably his room? It's 6 am, I imagine he's still asleep, Sonya grumbles, and she can picture her wolf flinging herself back onto the ground.Why are we not in his room?, Avery asks, and as she asks, she remembers their almost argument, and her walking out.That's why, Sonya chirps helpfully, now please answer the door, or I'll shift and scare them away.Avery reluctantly climbs out of her warm burrito, a scowl on her face as the cold air of
The drive to the airport is relatively quiet, York occasionally groaning in pain in his seat.Avery shoots him worried looks, and when he catches on, he turns the other way, his back facing her and his head against the window.His new position seems to make things a lot worse, and he quickly flips back over, his hand flying out to scrabble for his water bottle desperately.Ezra, his wolf, is freaking out. He can't calm himself down, and all he can feel is his heart racing as sweat builds upon his brow and neck."Avery," he gasps, panting for air as his sister roars to the guards to stop the car.She quickly drags him out of the vehicle, ripping open his shirt and tilting his head back."Is this a panic attack or something else?" She asks, looking into his eyes as he starts convulsing.We don't know, Ezra links to Sonya, and she can hear the terror in his voice as he loses control of his body and stops responding to her.Avery curses under her breath, the guards all standing around her
In the years that follow, Avery and Roman's love story continues to unfold with its share of ups and downs, but their unwavering commitment to each other remains unchanged. They face new challenges as their children grow older and navigate their own paths in life.Hallie, now a teenager, inherits her parents' strong leadership qualities and shows a natural inclination towards diplomacy and problem-solving. She becomes actively involved in pack affairs, working alongside Avery and Roman to create a more inclusive and harmonious community. Hallie's compassion and sense of justice inspire those around her, earning her the respect and admiration of both pack members and neighboring packs.Parker, on the other hand, discovers a deep love for music and art. His creative spirit flourishes as he explores various forms of artistic expression, capturing the hearts of many with his talent. Avery and Roman wholeheartedly support his passion, enrolling him in music lessons and art classes to nurtu
As the years pass, the family's story weaves itself into the fabric of their community. They become known not just for their individual accomplishments but for their collective impact on the world around them.Milo's veterinary clinic grows into a sanctuary for animals in need, providing care and rehabilitation for injured and abandoned creatures. His dedication to their well-being inspires others to foster empathy and compassion for all living beings.Hallie's art transcends the boundaries of galleries, adorning public spaces with colorful murals that uplift and unite communities. Her work becomes a catalyst for conversations about social justice and environmental stewardship, reminding people of the interconnectedness of all living things.Parker's research and advocacy work on marine conservation gain global recognition. He becomes a leading voice in the fight against pollution and habitat destruction, working tirelessly to protect fragile ecosystems and raise awareness about the i
Roman stammers, caught off guard by Milo's question. "Well, uh... I suppose it could be," he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.Avery's laughter fills the room, and she walks over to Roman, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Milo, sweetheart, your dad and I have already made a commitment to each other. But finding this ring again just reminds us of the importance of our bond," she explains, giving Roman an affectionate smile.Milo rolls his eyes playfully. "I know you guys are already together, but still, proposing with a ring that got thrown into a lake? That's pretty cool," he says, grinning mischievously.Roman chuckles, relieved that Milo isn't disappointed by his response. "Well, I can't argue with that," he says, pulling Milo into a playful headlock. "You're a smart kid, you know that?"As they engage in their playful banter, Hallie tugs at Avery's hand, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Mommy, does that mean you and Daddy are gonna get married again?"Avery's hea
"Mom, what's this?" Milo asks, his hands flying through Avery's old wooden jewellery box.The nine-year-old is excitable and energetic, and Avery is half asleep still."What's what?" She asks, covering her yawn with her hand while she leans in the doorway.Roman can hear the two of them from the bed and inwardly groans.If Milo is awake, that means four-year-old Hallie and one-year-old Parker are going to follow soon."This circle," he says innocently, pulling a small metal ring out of the box."That's a ring, sweetheart," Avery explains, walking over to where he stands.She wraps an arm around him, pulling him to her and kissing his temple."You don't wear rings," Milo frowns, his nose scrunching up when Avery kisses his head."I found that when I stayed at dad's pack, literally years ago," Avery realises, gently prying the old ring out of Milo's hand and examining it.Some of the original chain is still attached, but it's mostly broken off, which she understands is almost definitely
"I can't do all of the work," Avery snaps, snatching the boiling pot off the stove and switching it off."Hallie, honey, hands away from the hot stuff," Avery strains to sound sweet, giving her daughter a small smile."Sorry, mommy," Hallie mumbles, the tiny child wandering back over to the kitchen table."I'm not asking you to do all of the work," Roman retorts, manoeuvring around their child to get over to Avery."I came home from a weekend-long Council meeting to the house looking like a junkyard. Which had been set on fire," she reminds him, her eyes flashing irritably as she mixes her homemade vegetable sauce."What did you expect to come home to? We have a three-year-old," he reminds her, equally annoyed and snappy.Hallie watches the two of them with wide eyes, swinging her legs from the high stool she managed to clamber onto."I am three months pregnant, working two full-time jobs, and raising our daughter basically by myself. I cannot do this," Avery snarls, slamming the pot
Her left hand rests on her bump as she brushes through her hair with her right, exhaustion apparent on her face as she fixes herself for her meetings.Putting the brush down onto the dressing table, she slowly hauls herself up from her stool, wincing as her back aches at the sudden movement.Roman can hear movement from where he is in the bathroom, and he quickly hurries out, his eyes widening as he spots his very pregnant mate moving around."Ave, I told you to call me!" He scolds, and she scowls at him, slapping his hand off her arm."I'm not an invalid, I'm just pregnant," she scoffs, waddling around the room to find a hat."Yes, very pregnant," he reminds her with a frown, grabbing a tan wool hat for her.It matches the only coat she wants to wear nowadays, so he figures that she can't be too upset at his pairing of the two.She stares at it for a moment, taking it off him gently and cramming it onto her head roughly, glancing at the time."I can drive you if you give me two minut
It feels like everyone Avery has ever known is staring up at her intently.She can feel sweat building up on the back of her neck, and she tugs gently at the silk scarf hanging around her neck as she glances up at Roman."You're probably wondering why we called this pack meeting," Roman begins, and looks down at Avery.He raises an eyebrow at her.Are you going to continue, or do I have to keep talking?, he asks urgently, and Avery has to hold back a smile.She likes knowing that he's just as nervous as she is, because he doesn't usually express much emotion, especially in front of either of their packs.Both packs together?Forget it.I might faint if I try to talk, she responds, and she isn't lying.Sonya has gone radio silent out of absolute fear, and Avery herself feels ridiculously light-headed.You can face down packs of rogues and vampires, but a speech makes you crap yourself? Really?, Avery grumbles to a slightly miffed Sonya.Those rogues aren't expecting me to make a speech
She lays the white plastic down on the counter, brushing the strand of hair that fell into her face away from her eyes."They're all positive," she murmurs, looking over her shoulder to a very pale Roman."I think I'm going to be sick," he whispers, sinking down against the cupboards."Don't lean against the wood, you'll get blood on it," she snaps, washing her hands in the kitchen sink.He absentmindedly reaches around to his back and begins unclipping his chest plate, staring at the pregnancy tests on the kitchen island.Avery slaps his hands away and unclips his armour for him, gritting her teeth."Stupid," she growls, and he looks up in alarm, raising his eyebrows in confusion."What did I do?" He asks, slowly hauling himself up from the ground."Not you, me," she sighs, shaking her head miserably."What are you talking about, you crazy girl?" He furrows his brows, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards him gently."I've constantly been shifting, and I just foug
"Yeah, I did, I'm not being responsible for getting them all back to their rooms later," she chuckles, glancing out the window."Do you know how many people are going home tonight?" Roman calls from the bathroom, turning the water back on."I think a few Alphas are, but I'm not sure," she responds, laying the makeup she's using for the dinner dance out on the dresser."Oh, I thought everyone would stay for the dinner," he shouts, and she nods to herself."Some of the Alphas are really annoyed that they didn't rank too well, I'd say they're running home with their tails tucked between their legs," she sighs, and she reaches into her suitcase to find her hair products.Do you want to join me in here?, Roman links her, and Avery raises her eyebrows, trying not to laugh.No thanks, I don't want to get my hair wet, she snorts, quickly replying to some of the emails while she waits for him to get out of the shower.As soon as he opens the bathroom door, she breezes by him, clutching towels